DOING THE BOPTROT

LETTER FROM KENTUCKY about the BOPTROT corruption scandal and legalizing casino gambling in the state. The FBI is here, investigating corruption in state government, and several of our politicians have been convicted of taking bribes to influence racing legislation. Operation BOPTROT began in 1990, as an undercover investigation of the Kentucky legislature. For 1 1/2 years, the FBI was creeping around Frankfort, the state capital, secretly doctoring $20 bills with fluorescent powder and taping lawmakers and lobbyists, and even having surveillance airplanes fly over. Similar sting operations have gone on in California, Arizona, and South Carolina. Here the FBI targeted lawmakers who were willing to be bribed for their influence in helping a troubled harness track compete against a rival Thoroughbred track for more gambling opportunities. The BOP in BOPTROT came from the Business Organizations and Professions Committees in both the House and the Senate of the Kentucky General Assembly; the BOP committees handle horse-racing bills. TROT referred to the trots, as harness racing is known. The investigation spread to other areas of public business and is still going on. BOPTROT has stood the state on its ear, and we're having to take a hard look at the way things get done here. After BOPTROT surfaced, the hangdog lawmakers were compelled to pass a new ethics law.